Unix

Meaning

Noun

  • A computer operating system that shares the original source code by Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson, currently owned by Novell.
  • An operating system largely compatible with Unix that qualifies for use of the UNIX trademark, currently owned by The Open Group.
  • The above plus Unix-like operating systems similar to Unix but not qualifying for use of the UNIX trademark.
  • The group of Unix operating systems as a whole.

Related

Broader meaning words

Origin

  • A pun on Multics to sound like eunuch, as Unix was considered to be an emasculated Multics (see multi- and uni-). Probably coined by Brian Kernighan in 1970.

Modern English dictionary

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